AN ALCOHOL-fuelled man who knocked his partner unconscious with a wine bottle after discovering her “shady past” has been jailed for 10 months.

William Shakespeare, 43, from Sandecotes Road, Parkstone, admitted a charge of unlawful wounding on March 5 this year.

Prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, Elaine Jones said violence had flared after Shakespeare and his partner of two months returned to her home following a night out.

After making abusive remarks, Shakespeare suddenly picked up an empty wine bottle and hit his victim. Miss Jones added: “She put her hands up to her face; he was hitting her to the back of her head and blood was dripping down her face.

“She called emergency services but, by the time they arrived, she was unconscious on the sofa and bleeding heavily.” The woman needed stitches to head and facial wounds.

In Shakespeare’s defence, the court heard that he had been in love with the woman but had struggled to come to terms with the discovery that she had been an escort and prostitute.

When her “somewhat shady past” had become the topic of conversation again Shakespeare had “flipped.” Despite being unable to remember the attack, because of the amount of alcohol he had consumed, he had admitted responsibility for “a moment of stupidity” and was “extremely remorseful.”

The court heard how Shakespeare, who has 11 convictions for 30 offences, had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and confessed to the police.

Sentencing him, Recorder Nigel Seed QC said: “You took a bottle to her. She was clearly in pain and you literally knocked her unconscious. The petty nature of your domestic squabbles can be no justification for that.”